Top stop for separable fasteners



April 6, 137. J. L. LARROQUE TOP STOP FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed NOV.27, 1955 INVEN TOR.

Jaseplz'L; Larroque A ORNEYS.

Patented Apr. .6, 1937' I 2,076,501 7 TOP s'zror FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS-Joseph Leon Larroqu e, Rouen, France, assignor UNITED TSTATESQ' toHookless' Fastener C of Pennsylvania ompany, corporation ApplicationNovember 27,1935, Serial No. 51,870 In Great Britain November 21, 1934Claims.

This invention relates to sliding clasp fasteners of the kind comprisingtwo flexible-stringers having fastener members mounted thereon andadapted to be interlocked anddisengaged bythe 5 action of a slider. Theinventionrelates in particular to-means for binding the ends of the saidflexible stringers. The invention relates moreover to garments orarticles incorporating fas: teners of the kind described in whichelastic insertions are provided in the flexiblestringer whereby the endsof the fastener stringers are bound in a neat and effective manner andwhereby the frayed edges of the mounting tape are completely concealed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an end binding forfastener stringers which are elastic in thecross-wisedirection whereinthe binding is also stretchable in the crosswise dimotion According tothe present invention, in sliding clasp fasteners of the kind described,the flexible stringers are provided with a smooth and coherentendbinding or border of non-metallic plastic material, for example -rubber,which is molded,-'

stuck or otherwise afiixed in position on the end of the said stringers.The arrangement ispreferably such that part of the bindingmaterial'forms the end stop of the fastener and-this portion, may, if desired, behardened or toughened while the remainder of the material is madesubstantially flexible. V I

The invention may be applied, if desired, not only to the separable endsof the fastener? but 5 also to the remote ends which are not adapted tobe separated in the normal use of the fastener or the article to whichit is attached.

The plastic material which forms .the end binding of the presentinvention is preferably a rubber composition but may also comprise asynthetic resin preferably of the thermoplastic type. Thermo hardeningresins may also be em;-

ployed provided that the hardening operation is so conductedthat thetape is not thereby "damaged.

The invention will now be describedbyway I of illustration withreference to the aecompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 shows aperspective view of a shoe fitted with a fastener constructed inaccOrdancewith -1 the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a front view on an enlarged scale of the top end of thefastener constructed in accordance with my invention,--,the upper end ofthe fastener being shown in a stretched condition; Fig. 3 is a detailview showing the end of one of the tape stringers; i Figs. 4 and 5 arecross-sections on lines 4-4 and 5 5 respectively of Fig. 3; and w Fig. 6is a. perspective view of a modified form 15 of the invention. x Inthese figures, a shoe I is fitted with a'slid ing. clasp fastener lcomprising two flexible stringers 3, on the edges of which are mountedseries of interlocking fastener members 4. In

order to ensure that the front of the shoe will 2 fit closely to thefoot with a maximum degree of comfort,jthe fastener tapes areprovidedwithinsertions of elastic material 5 which are woven into thenon-stretching portions 6 of the'tapes..g- By this means a'certainamount of cross-wise stretching of the front portion of the shoe isprovided when the fastener is in the closed tion.

Each upper or separable end of the fastener is.

provided with -'"an endbinding consisting of a piece of rubber or likematerial I, which is molded inposition as shown. The rubber moldingwhich completely embraces the end of the tape including the elasticportion 5,'firmly holds the cotton and elastic threads of the inserttogether and permits the end of: the fastener stringer to be finishedoff squarely and smoothly without any rough edges. Part of the border 8adjacent to the corded edge of the tape is adapted to act as the top endstop of the fastener, to prevent the removal of the operating slider 9.This portion is suitably thickened as shown, and is preferably toughenedor hardened to. resist wear. Preferably also the piece of rubber has arib l0 extending across the tape so' as to reinforce the same andprovide-a secure stop for the slider. The binding is preferablymade'thin as indicated at 'H at the edge; of the stringer opposite thefa'stener members, in order that it may more easily stretch. In thecentral portion the binding material need not. cover the elastic insert5. The fastener is attached to the front portion of the shoe by means ofrows 01' stitches I in the manner'shown in Figure 1. It will be observed55 modate the foot of the wearer as in a shoe.

thatv the ends of the fastener stringers are sewn directly to theleather without having to fold over the ends of the tapes as is theusual practice. By this means the difficulty of concealing the foldedover ends of the tapes is overcome and the bulky appearance due to thisfolded con- 'struction is avoided. Moreover, since the usual {unsightlymetal end stops are eliminated, a

fastener of much neater appearance than hitherto is produced.

The modification shown in Fig. 6 consists of a piece of elastic tape l2folded over the end of the tape stringer 3 and secured in place in anysuitable manner such as by stitching or cement. In this instance a metalstop member I3 is preferably used.

It will readily be seen that with either of the constructions shown theupper end of the fastener while securely bound to provide the properkind of end finish, may yet readily stretch to accomscribed, thecombination with a pair of flexible stringers each of which is elasticin the crosswise direction, a series of fastener members secured to oneedge of each of said stringers, and v a slider on said fastener membersfor engaging The and disengaging the same, of an end binding coveringone end of the stringer, said end binding also being elastic in thecross-wise direction of the fastener.

2. In a separable fastener of the class described, the combinationdefined in claim 1, wherein said end binding comprises a piece ofelastic fabric folded over the end of the stringer and firmly. attachedin position thereon.

3. A separable fastener of the class described comprising thecombination with a pair of fabric -tape stringers, cooperating series offastener members secured along adjacent edges of the stringers, and amolded rubber stop member secured to and extending transversely of oneof the stringers at one end thereof.

4. A separable fastener of the class described comprising thecombination with a pair of fabric tape stringers, cooperating series offastener members secured along the adjacent edges of the stringers, andmolded rubber top stop members intimately bonded with and extendingacross the upper end ofthe stringers.

5. A separable fastener of the class described, comprising incombination with a pair of fabric tape stringers, cooperating series offastener members secured along adjacent edges of the stringers, andmolded rubber top stop members one on the upper end of each stringer,each of the top stop members comprising a rubber mass having a borderportion adapted to enter the slider, a transversely'extending portionadjacent thereto of lesser thickness, and a transversely extending ribportion extending across the top of the member to reinforce the same.

JOSEPH LEON LARROQUE.

